Site 2 - Second Stop

Site 2:

N39 38.035 W77 26.828

Elevation: 1001 ft

Aspect: South
Slope Position: Back Slope
Landform: Cove
Common Vegetation: Sassafras, N. Red Oak, Red Maple
Coming from a dry area concentrated with chestnut oaks, red maples and black gums, there was a major difference when coming to the second stop; a small cove. A cove is characterized by an inward curving form. This area is typically where water collects on a mountain. Coves are a place where most trees can grow, therefore there is usually a more diverse population than you would see on a nose slope (Cove Forest).
In this cove, the vegetation we encountered was sassafras, northern red oak and red maple. It is typical for these trees to be located here because they cannot adapt as well to drier soil as the chestnut oaks can. Also, when looking around a cove, one can see more vegetation of the lower levels of the forests. Smaller plants can grow in this area because of all the nutrients that flow down into the dip with the water (Interaction of Ground Water).

"Interaction of Ground Water and Surface Water in Different Landscapes." N.p., n.d. Web. <http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1139/pdf/part1bb.pdf>.

Cove Forest. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Conserving/documents/Mountains/SBR_Cove_forest.pdf>.